IIDA Hosts Fashion-Forward Design Competition

The Fashion Meets Finish competition, hosted by the IIDA of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey Chapter, returned to Philadelphia last week. It brought together design teams and material manufacturers from across the region in a friendly competition to showcase hand-crafted garments.

Fashion Meets Finish is a friendly design competition in which design teams are paired with two material manufacturer partners and use materials from both manufacturers to create runway-ready looks.

Model Priscilla Bissi, representing Nemo Tile, took center stage in a show-stopping ensemble. The talented team from EwingCole crafted the design, inspired by the iconic styles of David Bowie and The Hooters.

A collaboration between EwingCole and brand partners Nemo Tile + Stone and Bentley Mills crafted a stunning fusion of materials. The team’s six-week journey was filled with meticulous craftsmanship, from sewing the base garment in Muslin to brainstorming ideas and construction techniques during lunches and after-hours sessions. Their design incorporated mosaic tiles, mesh backers, unbacked broadloom carpet, carpet tiles, raw carpet fibers, and backing materials.

EwingCole team designers behind this year’s look include —Warren Smith, Samantha Ding, Natalie Perri, Patrick Papia, Amanda Marconi, Megan Frohman, Yasmin Golding, Shani Ferguson, and Shannon Noon—for their exceptional collaboration and creativity.